Browsing by Subject "Exocrine pancreas"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Deoxyhypusine synthase, an essential enzyme for hypusine biosynthesis, is required for proper exocrine pancreas development
    (Wiley, 2021-05) Padgett, Leah R.; Robertson, Morgan A.; Anderson-Baucum, Emily K.; Connors, Craig T.; Wu, Wenting; Mirmira, Raghavendra G.; Mastracci, Teresa L.; Biology, School of Science
    Pancreatic diseases including diabetes and exocrine insufficiency would benefit from therapies that reverse cellular loss and/or restore cellular mass. The identification of molecular pathways that influence cellular growth is therefore critical for future therapeutic generation. Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) is an enzyme that post-translationally modifies and activates the mRNA translation factor eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Previous work demonstrated that the inhibition of DHPS impairs zebrafish exocrine pancreas development; however, the link between DHPS, eIF5A, and regulation of pancreatic organogenesis remains unknown. Herein we identified that the conditional deletion of either Dhps or Eif5a in the murine pancreas results in the absence of acinar cells. Because DHPS catalyzes the activation of eIF5A, we evaluated and uncovered a defect in mRNA translation concomitant with defective production of proteins that influence cellular development. Our studies reveal a heretofore unappreciated role for DHPS and eIF5A in the synthesis of proteins required for cellular development and function.
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    Exocrine-Endocrine Crosstalk: The Influence of Pancreatic Cellular Communications on Organ Growth, Function and Disease
    (Frontiers Media, 2022-06-13) Overton, Danielle L.; Mastracci, Teresa L.; Biology, School of Science
    Diabetes mellitus, a disease that affects nearly 536.6 million people worldwide, is characterized by the death or dysfunction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The beta cells are found within the islets of Langerhans, which are composed of multiple hormone-producing endocrine cells including the alpha (glucagon), delta (somatostatin), PP (pancreatic polypeptide), and epsilon (ghrelin) cells. There is direct evidence that physical and paracrine interactions between the cells in the islet facilitate and support beta cell function. However, communication between endocrine and exocrine cells in the pancreas may also directly impact beta cell growth and function. Herein we review literature that contributes to the view that "crosstalk" between neighboring cells within the pancreas influences beta cell growth and function and the maintenance of beta cell health.
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    Integrated Physiology of the Exocrine and Endocrine Compartments in Pancreatic Diseases: Workshop Proceedings
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2022) Mastracci, Teresa L.; Apte, Minoti; Amundadottir, Laufey T.; Alvarsson, Alexandra; Artandi, Steven; Bellin, Melena D.; Bernal-Mizrachi, Ernesto; Caicedo, Alejandro; Campbell-Thompson, Martha; Cruz-Monserrate, Zobeida; El Ouaamari, Abdelfattah; Gaulton, Kyle J.; Geisz, Andrea; Goodarzi, Mark O.; Hara, Manami; Hull-Meichle, Rebecca L.; Kleger, Alexander; Klein, Alison P.; Kopp, Janel L.; Kulkarni, Rohit N.; Muzumdar, Mandar D.; Naren, Anjaparavanda P.; Oakes, Scott A.; Olesen, Søren S.; Phelps, Edward A.; Powers, Alvin C.; Stabler, Cherie L.; Tirkes, Temel; Whitcomb, David C.; Yadav, Dhiraj; Yong, Jing; Zaghloul, Norann A.; Sander, Maike; Pandol, Stephen J.; Biology, School of Science
    The Integrated Physiology of the Exocrine and Endocrine Compartments in Pancreatic Diseases Workshop was a 1.5-day scientific conference at the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD) that engaged clinical and basic science investigators interested in diseases of the pancreas. This report summarizes the workshop proceedings. The goal of the workshop was to forge connections and identify gaps in knowledge that could guide future research directions. Presentations were segregated into six major themes, including: (a) Pancreas Anatomy and Physiology; (b) Diabetes in the Setting of Exocrine Disease; (c) Metabolic Influences on the Exocrine Pancreas; (d) Genetic Drivers of Pancreatic Diseases; (e) Tools for Integrated Pancreatic Analysis; and (f) Implications of Exocrine-Endocrine Crosstalk. For each theme, there were multiple presentations followed by panel discussions on specific topics relevant to each area of research; these are summarized herein. Significantly, the discussions resulted in the identification of research gaps and opportunities for the field to address. In general, it was concluded that as a pancreas research community, we must more thoughtfully integrate our current knowledge of the normal physiology as well as the disease mechanisms that underlie endocrine and exocrine disorders so that there is a better understanding of the interplay between these compartments.
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    Pancreatic Crosstalk in the Disease Setting: Understanding the Impact of Exocrine Disease on Endocrine Function
    (Wiley, 2024-03-29) Villaca, Catharina B. P.; Mastracci, Teresa L.; Biology, School of Science
    The exocrine and endocrine are functionally distinct compartments of the pancreas that have traditionally been studied as separate entities. However, studies of embryonic development, adult physiology, and disease pathogenesis suggest there may be critical communication between exocrine and endocrine cells. In fact, the incidence of the endocrine disease diabetes secondary to exocrine disease/dysfunction ranges from 25% to 80%, depending on the type and severity of the exocrine pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how exocrine-endocrine "crosstalk" may impact pancreatic function. In this article, we discuss common exocrine diseases, including cystic fibrosis, acute, hereditary, and chronic pancreatitis, and the impact of these exocrine diseases on endocrine function. Additionally, we review how obesity and fatty pancreas influence exocrine function and the impact on cellular communication between the exocrine and endocrine compartments. Interestingly, in all pathologies, there is evidence that signals from the exocrine disease contribute to endocrine dysfunction and the progression to diabetes. Continued research efforts to identify the mechanisms that underlie the crosstalk between various cell types in the pancreas are critical to understanding normal pancreatic physiology as well as disease states.